Time to Plant Those Warm Season Gardens
Despite the fact Oklahoma has been experiencing cooler-than-normal temperatures this spring, gardening enthusiasts need to get their warm season gardens planted now. David Hillock, Oklahoma State...
View ArticleThink Native When Replacing Landscape Trees
Stately oaks that once shaded front yards lost the battle with drought. Ornamental pear trees that used to bid ironic farewells to winter with blizzards of white blossoms were wrecked by winter storms....
View ArticleAvoid Invasive Trees Such as Bradford Pear in Landscape Plantings
An oft-planted ornamental tree – Bradford pear – has become an invasive species that harms native plants or trees that support wildlife. Property owners and managers are urged to consider native...
View ArticleWet Spring Puts Plants at Risk Should Hot, Dry Weather Arrive
The excessive spring rains could put plants at risk when Missouri weather turns dry and hot. “The big problem that plants have right now is there is no reason for them to send down a deep root system...
View ArticleTrees May Need Special Attention After Wet Spring
If you are tired of wet feet, you have lots of company. Many trees are suffering, too. The Missouri Department of Conservation has advice for helping trees cope with wet weather. Flooding along the...
View ArticleWarm, Dry Weather Brings Out the Spider Mites
With summer knocking on the door, Oklahoma gardeners may soon be dealing with more than increasing water bills. As the weather turns hot and dry, spider mites can become real pests, said David Hillock,...
View ArticleJapanese Beetles to Emerge Soon
Japanese beetle grub worms are appearing throughout Missouri and will emerge by July 1, says an entomologist for University of Missouri Extension. White grubs of the Japanese beetle can be found just...
View ArticleA Low-Intensity, No-Feed Approach to Water Garden Management
With proper planning and management, water gardens are relaxing and beautiful additions to any landscape. There are several misconceptions about water gardens that can lead to problems in their...
View ArticleTips for Freezing Your Garden Vegetables
Freezing vegetables is a good option for people who want to preserve their garden produce but are daunted by the idea of canning. “The color, flavor and texture of the produce are often maintained when...
View ArticleFall Gardening Season Has Arrived
Although Oklahoma gardeners are still reaping the rewards of their spring gardens, the time has arrived to start the fall gardening process. David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Cooperative...
View ArticleComposting Subtracts from Your Waste to Add to Garden
Composting is a great way to reduce food wastes and add nutrients to your garden; and best of all, it doesn’t require expensive tools or a lot of work. “Compost is an ecosystem all its own,” said Berni...
View ArticleFall Remains Best Time to Plant a Tree
If you plant to plant a new tree in your yard or field, now is the time to do it according to Patrick Byers, a horticulture specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “Fall tends to be a better...
View ArticleOctober a Great Time to do Soil Tests for Gardens, Lawns and Fields
A person can’t tell whether a field, lawn or garden has too much phosphorus or too little organic matter simply by smelling and touching the soil. But, if a sample of the soil is taken to a local...
View ArticleMale, Female Species Needed for Successful Persimmons
The persimmon is a common native tree in the Ozarks. It grows in rocky, dry open woods, edges of woods, glades, prairies, old fields, thickets, bottomland woods and valleys along streams. Homeowners...
View ArticleLeaves Are Not Only Pretty, But a Valuable Resource as Well
The brilliant orange, red and yellow leaves have certainly been a treat for Oklahomans as they travel through the state enjoying the fall foliage. The extra moisture and milder temperatures this summer...
View ArticleTake Steps to Prevent Salt Damage to Home Landscape
During the winter, people rush to the car wash to rid their vehicle of accumulating salts. Just as salts cause vehicles to corrode, it can also create problems for landscape plants according to Patrick...
View ArticleImported Pest of Crape Myrtles Spotted in Little Rock
About a decade after being first spotted in Texas, an imported pest of crape myrtles has been found in Arkansas, extension entomologists for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture...
View ArticleNuisance the Most Likely Outcome When Feeding Wild Animals
Maybe it’s all the movies we watched growing up or the abundance of YouTube videos of deer, foxes and coyotes feeding from our backyards. Whatever the reason, we have an unrealistic view about feeding...
View ArticleBeer Marinade Could Reduce Levels of Potentially Harmful Substances in...
The smells of summer — the sweet fragrance of newly opened flowers, the scent of freshly cut grass and the aroma of meats cooking on the backyard grill — will soon be upon us. Now, researchers are...
View ArticleSoil Tests a Worthwhile Investment for Your Lawn and Garden
Past performance does not guarantee future results. That’s true in your lawn and garden as well as the stock market. If you haven’t had a soil test in the past few years, it would be a worthwhile...
View ArticleConserving Water in the Landscape
Now that spring is in the air, gardeners all across the state are preparing soil, starting seeds or shopping for plants in preparation for a great gardening season. As the weather begins to warm up,...
View ArticlePrune Winter-Damaged Evergreens
The long, harsh winter coupled with last fall’s drought caused a lot of damage to evergreen trees. The dead branches of injured evergreens, which can harbor fungi and decay, should be removed, says...
View ArticleFall Armyworms Infesting Some Oklahoma Lawns
Oklahoma homeowners should be on the lookout for the presence of fall armyworms defoliating their lawns, an unwanted pest problem that is being reported across parts of Oklahoma. Fall armyworms are...
View ArticleProtect Bulbs From Pesky Critters
As the weather begins to cool down, homeowners may notice the squirrels and other rodents in their yards are gathering food before winter sets in. Unfortunately, some of these yard dwellers may think a...
View ArticleKeep Your Plants from Freezing this Winter
Oklahoma has already dealt with several days below the freezing mark. So as you pull out that extra coat or throw another log on the fire to keep warm, remember to protect your shallow-rooted plants as...
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